Sunderland are stepping up their interest in the Swansea striker André Ayew as Sam Allardyce attempts to bolster his squad for the fight against relegation.

The north-east club first registered their interest in the 26-year-old Ghana international earlier this month, but were swiftly rebuffed with the Swans insisting their summer signing was simply not for sale.

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Sources on Wearside on Tuesday played down suggestions that the club has returned with an offer of £10m plus the Italian striker Fabio Borini, although it is understood there has been further contact and that their interest is firm and ongoing.

It remains to be seen whether or not the Welsh club is prepared to do business after all with the new manager Francesco Guidolin, a compatriot of Borini, having presided over victory in his first game at Everton on Sunday to boost hopes of avoiding relegation.

The former Marseille forward Ayew scored the decisive goal in that game, his eighth of the season, while Borini, who joined the Sunderland for a fee which could eventually rise to £10m from Liverpool last summer, has managed just two to date.

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Just how a deal which involved the two crossing paths would go down in South Wales is a matter for some contention with Swansea having already sold the midfielder Jonjo Shelvey to another relegation-threatened side, Newcastle United, for £12m earlier this month.

However, it is understood he has no interest in the Stoke striker Peter Odemwingie amid suggestions that he could be on his way to the Stadium of Light.

Meanwhile, a Sunderland XI will entertain a Newcastle XI behind closed doors at the Stadium of Light later this week as Allardyce and his opposite number Steve McClaren give some of their fringe players and senior men who are short of match fitness a chance to get game-time under their belts.

Eyebrows have been raised at the plan, although neither club has a fixture this weekend with both having gone out of the FA Cup at the first attempt.